A2 Collocation Formal 8 min read

pour des décision

pour the decision

Literally: for some decisions

In 15 Seconds

  • Used to state the purpose of a meeting or action as making choices.
  • Functions as a direct, productive alternative to long-winded explanations.
  • Always uses the plural 'des' to imply multiple resolutions are needed.
  • Fits both professional Zoom calls and casual group chat planning sessions.

Meaning

This phrase describes the specific purpose of an event or discussion, signaling that the goal is to finalize multiple choices. It suggests a transition from brainstorming or debating into the active phase of commitment and resolution. It carries a sense of productive tension, moving from 'what if' to 'this is it.'

Key Examples

3 of 10
1

In a professional Zoom meeting

Nous nous réunissons aujourd'hui pour des décisions budgétaires.

We are meeting today for budget decisions.

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2

Texting a group of friends about a trip

On s'appelle à 20h pour des décisions sur les billets d'avion ?

Shall we call at 8 PM for decisions on the plane tickets?

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3

At a family dinner planning a wedding

C'est le moment idéal pour des décisions concernant le menu.

It's the perfect time for decisions concerning the menu.

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🌍

Cultural Background

In French corporate culture, meetings are often for debate, but the final 'pour des décisions' moment is usually reserved for the highest-ranking person in the room. Quebecers might use 'pour des décisions' but are also influenced by North American consensus-style management, making the phrase feel slightly more collaborative. In many West African French-speaking countries, 'pour des décisions' can be used in community 'palabres' (discussions) where elders meet to resolve local issues. Swiss French often emphasizes the 'statutory' nature of decisions, reflecting the country's highly organized and rule-based society.

🎯

Sound like a boss

Use this phrase at the start of a meeting to immediately command authority and focus the room.

⚠️

The 'Faire' Trap

Never say 'faire des décisions'. It's the #1 giveaway that you are translating from English in your head.

In 15 Seconds

  • Used to state the purpose of a meeting or action as making choices.
  • Functions as a direct, productive alternative to long-winded explanations.
  • Always uses the plural 'des' to imply multiple resolutions are needed.
  • Fits both professional Zoom calls and casual group chat planning sessions.

What It Means

Ever stood in front of an open fridge for ten minutes, staring at the yogurt, unable to choose a flavor? We’ve all been there. This phrase, pour des décisions, is the linguistic equivalent of someone finally telling you to just pick one and move on. It’s not about the talk; it’s about the result. When you use this expression, you are telling the world (or just your group chat) that the time for 'maybe' is over. It signifies that a meeting, a phone call, or even a quick text session has one goal: making choices. It’s functional, direct, and carries the weight of a person who actually wants to get stuff done. Think of it as the 'checkout' button of a conversation. You’ve done the shopping, and now it’s time to finalize the order.

How To Use It

You’ll usually find this phrase hanging out at the end of a sentence to explain the 'why' behind an action. It acts like a label. If you say, On se réunit pour des décisions, you’re setting a very specific boundary for that meeting. You don’t need a complicated verb like afin de prendre (in order to take) if you want to keep things snappy. Just drop pour des décisions after your main activity. It works beautifully with nouns like réunion (meeting), rendez-vous (appointment), or even temps (time). It’s like saying, 'This slot in my calendar is strictly reserved for the heavy lifting of choosing.' It’s short enough for a Slack message but professional enough for a boardroom. Just remember that des is plural, so you’re signaling that there’s more than one choice on the table. If you only had one thing to decide, you’d use pour une décision instead.

Real-Life Examples

Imagine a Zoom call that has been dragging on for forty-five minutes. People are talking about their cats and the weather. Suddenly, the project manager says, On est là pour des décisions, pas pour discuter du temps. Ouch! But effective. Everyone immediately switches gears. Or think about a couple at an IKEA store. They’ve been looking at sofas for three hours. One of them finally snaps and says, On a trente minutes pour des décisions. It’s the ultimate productivity hack for your social life. You can even use it in a more relaxed way. Texting a friend about dinner? Je t'appelle ce soir pour des décisions sur le restau. It sounds organized and slightly 'boss-like' in a good way. It tells your friend, 'I’m not calling to gossip; I’m calling to eat.'

When To Use It

This is your go-to phrase whenever you feel like a situation is becoming too 'floaty.' Use it in professional settings when a project reaches a crossroads and you need the team to commit to a path. It’s also perfect for high-stakes personal moments, like planning a wedding or deciding on a new apartment. If you’re a travel vlogger and you’re filming a segment about choosing a destination with your audience, you might say, C'est le moment pour des décisions. It adds a bit of drama and stakes to your content. In a digital context, it’s great for captions when you’re showing off different options (like two different outfits) and you want your followers to help you choose. It signals that the input you want isn't just 'nice' or 'cool,' but an actual choice.

When NOT To Use It

Don’t use this phrase if the atmosphere is purely social and relaxed. If you’re at a party and you tell someone, Je suis ici pour des décisions, they might think you’re a secret agent or just really, really intense about the hors d'oeuvres. It’s also not the best choice if there’s only one specific thing to decide. Using the plural des makes it sound like a complex process. If you’re just choosing between 'yes' or 'no' on a single question, it sounds a bit overkill. Also, avoid using it when you want to sound soft or indecisive. This phrase is about authority and finality. If you’re trying to be polite and 'go with the flow,' this expression will make you sound way too assertive. Use pour voir (to see) or pour réfléchir (to think) instead.

Common Mistakes

On se voit pour le décisions On se voit pour des décisions (You need the plural indefinite article des).
C'est pour des décision C'est pour des décisions (Don't forget the 's' in writing, even if it's silent!).
Je viens pour une des décisions Je viens pour des décisions (Adding une makes it confusing; stick to the simple plural).
C'est pour faire des décisions C'est pour prendre des décisions (In French, you 'take' decisions, you don't 'make' them, though pour des décisions alone avoids the verb entirely).

One of the biggest blunders is treating décision as a masculine word. It’s une décision, so if you add an adjective, make sure it’s feminine! Don't be the person who says des décisions importants when it should be importantes.

Similar Expressions

If you want to sound a bit more formal, you could use en vue de prendre des décisions. It’s like wearing a suit in sentence form. It means 'with the view of taking decisions.' Another great one is afin de trancher. The verb trancher literally means 'to slice,' but in a decision-making context, it means to settle something once and for all. It’s very powerful. For a more casual vibe, you might say pour choisir. It’s simple, everyone knows it, and it gets the job done without the 'business meeting' energy. If you’re talking about a group effort, pour se mettre d'accord (to reach an agreement) is a friendly alternative that focuses on harmony rather than just the choice itself.

Common Variations

The most common way to beef this phrase up is by adding an adjective. Pour des décisions cruciales (for crucial decisions) or pour des décisions rapides (for quick decisions). You can also change the preposition if the context shifts slightly. Besoin de décisions (need for decisions) is a common way to express urgency. In a more bureaucratic setting, you might hear pour prise de décisions. This turns the act into a formal noun phrase, often used in subject lines of emails or on official agendas. If you’re feeling a bit more modern and 'tech-savvy,' you might even hear people say pour le decision-making in Franglais, but let's stick to the beautiful French version, shall we?

Memory Trick

💡

Think of the word 'Pour' as a literal pitcher. You are 'pouring' all your energy and focus into the 'Decisions.' Imagine a big bucket labeled 'Decisions' and you are pouring your time, your effort, and your coffee into it. If you don't 'pour' enough, the decisions won't be made. Also, remember that des looks like 'DEC' (the start of decisions). Des for Décisions. It’s a rhythmic, snappy little pair. If you can remember that you 'pour' effort into 'decisions,' you'll never forget the preposition. Just don't actually pour coffee on your keyboard during a Zoom call; that's a different kind of decision entirely!

Quick FAQ

Is pour des décisions too formal for friends? Not at all! It just makes you sound like you’re organized. It’s like being the 'mom' or 'dad' of the group who finally picks a restaurant so everyone can stop complaining and start eating. Can I use it with singular words? No, des requires a plural. If you have only one choice, say pour une décision. It’s a small change but it makes a huge difference in how natural you sound. Do I always need a verb before it? Nope! You can use it as a standalone reason. 'Why are you meeting?' 'Pour des décisions.' It’s the ultimate short-answer powerhouse for busy people. Is there a slang version? Not exactly a slang version, but pour trancher is the 'cool' way to say you're going to cut through the nonsense and finally choose.

Usage Notes

This phrase is incredibly versatile, fitting both a formal boardroom and a casual group chat. The main 'gotcha' is using the singular 'le' or 'la' when you mean 'some' (des). It flows best when placed after a noun denoting a meeting or time period.

🎯

Sound like a boss

Use this phrase at the start of a meeting to immediately command authority and focus the room.

⚠️

The 'Faire' Trap

Never say 'faire des décisions'. It's the #1 giveaway that you are translating from English in your head.

💬

Wait for the 'Chef'

In France, even if you are there 'pour des décisions', wait for the highest-ranking person to signal the final choice.

Examples

10
#1 In a professional Zoom meeting
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Nous nous réunissons aujourd'hui pour des décisions budgétaires.

We are meeting today for budget decisions.

Sets a professional tone and defines the scope of the meeting clearly.

#2 Texting a group of friends about a trip
<svg class="w-5 h-5" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true"><path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M14.828 14.828a4 4 0 01-5.656 0M9 10h.01M15 10h.01M21 12a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z"/></svg>

On s'appelle à 20h pour des décisions sur les billets d'avion ?

Shall we call at 8 PM for decisions on the plane tickets?

Uses the phrase to move from planning to action in a casual setting.

#3 At a family dinner planning a wedding
<svg class="w-5 h-5" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true"><path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M4.318 6.318a4.5 4.5 0 000 6.364L12 20.364l7.682-7.682a4.5 4.5 0 00-6.364-6.364L12 7.636l-1.318-1.318a4.5 4.5 0 00-6.364 0z"/></svg>

C'est le moment idéal pour des décisions concernant le menu.

It's the perfect time for decisions concerning the menu.

Focuses the family's attention on a specific task among the chaos.

#4 Instagram caption for a poll
<svg class="w-5 h-5" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true"><path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M14.828 14.828a4 4 0 01-5.656 0M9 10h.01M15 10h.01M21 12a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z"/></svg>

J'ai besoin de vous pour des décisions mode ! Option A ou B ?

I need you for some fashion decisions! Option A or B?

Engages followers using modern social media shorthand.

#5 A boss losing patience in a meeting
<svg class="w-5 h-5" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true"><path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M14.828 14.828a4 4 0 01-5.656 0M9 10h.01M15 10h.01M21 12a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z"/></svg>

Assez parlé, on est ici pour des décisions, pas pour le café !

Enough talk, we're here for decisions, not for coffee!

Adds a humorous but firm nudge to get back to work.

#6 Discussing a house renovation
<svg class="w-5 h-5" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true"><path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M21 13.255A23.931 23.931 0 0112 15c-3.183 0-6.22-.62-9-1.745M16 6V4a2 2 0 00-2-2h-4a2 2 0 00-2 2v2m4 6h.01M5 20h14a2 2 0 002-2V8a2 2 0 00-2-2H5a2 2 0 00-2 2v10a2 2 0 002 2z"/></svg>

L'architecte arrive bientôt pour des décisions sur les couleurs.

The architect is arriving soon for decisions on the colors.

Indicates a professional consultation with a specific goal.

#7 WhatsApp message to a partner
<svg class="w-5 h-5" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true"><path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M4.318 6.318a4.5 4.5 0 000 6.364L12 20.364l7.682-7.682a4.5 4.5 0 00-6.364-6.364L12 7.636l-1.318-1.318a4.5 4.5 0 00-6.364 0z"/></svg>

On a besoin d'une soirée calme pour des décisions sur notre futur.

We need a quiet evening for decisions about our future.

Shows the phrase can be used for deep, personal topics.

A learner making a common grammar mistake Common Mistake
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✗ On fait une réunion pour le décisions → ✓ On fait une réunion pour des décisions.

We are having a meeting for the decisions → We are having a meeting for decisions.

Shows that 'des' is the correct article for general decisions.

A learner using the wrong verb Common Mistake
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✗ Je t'appelle pour faire des décisions → ✓ Je t'appelle pour des décisions.

I'm calling you to make decisions → I'm calling you for decisions.

Demonstrates that the phrase alone is often better than a clunky verb.

#10 Booking a food delivery with a group
<svg class="w-5 h-5" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true"><path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M14.828 14.828a4 4 0 01-5.656 0M9 10h.01M15 10h.01M21 12a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z"/></svg>

On se dépêche pour des décisions ? J'ai faim !

Can we hurry up for some decisions? I'm hungry!

A very common everyday usage when ordering food via apps.

Test Yourself

Fill in the missing words to say 'We are here for important decisions'.

Nous sommes ici ________ ________ décisions importantes.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pour des

We use 'pour' for purpose and 'des' because 'décisions' is plural.

Which verb is correctly used with 'des décisions' in French?

Il faut ________ des décisions.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: prendre

In French, you 'take' (prendre) decisions.

Match the phrase to the most likely situation.

'Cette réunion est pour des décisions budgétaires.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A business meeting

'Budgétaires' (budgetary) and 'décisions' are typical of professional environments.

Complete the dialogue.

A: Pourquoi le directeur est-il là ? B: Il est là ________ ________ décisions.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pour des

The director is there 'for' (pour) the purpose of 'decisions' (des décisions).

🎉 Score: /4

Visual Learning Aids

Practice Bank

4 exercises
Fill in the missing words to say 'We are here for important decisions'. Fill Blank A2

Nous sommes ici ________ ________ décisions importantes.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pour des

We use 'pour' for purpose and 'des' because 'décisions' is plural.

Which verb is correctly used with 'des décisions' in French? Choose A2

Il faut ________ des décisions.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: prendre

In French, you 'take' (prendre) decisions.

Match the phrase to the most likely situation. situation_matching B1

'Cette réunion est pour des décisions budgétaires.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A business meeting

'Budgétaires' (budgetary) and 'décisions' are typical of professional environments.

Complete the dialogue. dialogue_completion A2

A: Pourquoi le directeur est-il là ? B: Il est là ________ ________ décisions.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pour des

The director is there 'for' (pour) the purpose of 'decisions' (des décisions).

🎉 Score: /4

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, 'pour décider' is more active and common in casual speech. 'Pour des décisions' is more noun-heavy and formal.

Yes, 'la décision' is always feminine. However, 'des' doesn't change for gender.

'Des' is indefinite (some decisions), while 'les' would mean 'the specific decisions we already talked about'.

Rarely. In texts, people usually say 'Faut décider' or 'On fait quoi ?'.

It sounds a bit dramatic for lunch, but you can use it as a joke to sound more serious.

'Pour une simple discussion' or 'Pour réfléchir' (for reflecting/thinking).

It can sound firm. If you want to be softer, say 'Pour en discuter et voir ce qu'on peut décider'.

Very often! 'Sommet à Bruxelles pour des décisions sur l'énergie'.

Yes, that is the most grammatically complete way to say it.

Say 'pour une décision' or 'pour la décision'.

Related Phrases

🔗

prendre une décision

builds on

To make a decision

🔄

trancher

synonym

To slice/decide

🔗

en vue de

similar

With a view to

🔗

passer à l'action

specialized form

To move to action

🔗

faire un choix

similar

To make a choice

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